I have a house in Waves NC on the Outer Banks, 12 lots back from the oceanfront, so my soil is really just sand.  It has always been a rental property and until I acquired it last Spring, the yard had been pretty much neglected. Until I applied Round Up, I had a sparse stand of centipede grass and other undesirable weeds. Read More

Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) arrived in the U.S. from China in 1916. It is a slow growing grass that creeps along the ground with the aid of above-ground shoots, called stolons. Short, upright stems resemble a centipede, hence the name centipedegrass. Read More

Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloidesis) is the grass of the Great Plains. It is one of the true native grasses, one that buffalo grazed on back when they roamed the plains. These days it is grown for its drought tolerance and its ability to adapt to clay soil and other tough conditions. It requires 50% less water than does bluegrass and fescue and like Kentucky bluegrass, will go into dormancy when conditions are very dry and green up after a good rain. Read More

As I sit here with my morning coffee, local nurseries are scurrying around like busy bees setting up their plant stands at the likes of Lowe’s, Wal-Mart and Home Depot. This is an exciting time of the year for us gardeners, anxious to see the tried and true varieties, as well as any new offerings of flowers and vegetables. Read More

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) is a warm season grass that was introduced to Florida in 1913. It is native to South America and is a mat-forming turf grass light green in color. It is often referred to as “highway grass” and is in fact planted along roadsides for erosion control. It has a deep root system and is drought tolerant. It will also tolerate sandy soils. Read More

Carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis) is a perennial turf grass popular in the Gulf Coast states, including Louisiana, where it was dubbed "petit gazon," by the Creoles. It is also referred to as “Louisiana grass.” It can be found growing in pastures, ditches, woods, and lawns. Carpetgrass forms a dense turf and is shallow rooted, and as such is not drought tolerant nor salt tolerant. Carpetgrass is as cold tolerant as centipedegrass, i.e., it doesn't have a true dormant state and will stay green as long as temperatures are above freezing.  Read More

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia species) is a superior lawn turf, assuming it is properly maintained. It forms a dense carpet of turf that is attractive and desirable for golf courses, lawns and parks. It spreads somewhat slower than other turf types, therefore recovering from damage can take longer. Read More